--- title: Rep. Ralph Norman Pulls Gun at Constituent Meeting description: During a "Coffee with Constituents" event Friday, Rep. Ralph Norman pulled out his gun and placed it on the table canonical: https://time.com/5231886/rep-ralph-norman-gun/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-04-07T14:51:40.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T19:54:15.577Z article:section: Politics og:title: Rep. Ralph Norman Pulls Gun at Constituent Meeting og:description: "I’m not going to be a Gabby Giffords." og:url: https://time.com/5231886/rep-ralph-norman-gun/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbeae7daa162ea27b/69892d1bab6d771fd36b2535/ralph-norman-gun-event.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3584 og:image:height: 2016 og:image:alt: Rep. Ralph Norman og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Rep. Ralph Norman Pulls Gun at Constituent Meeting twitter:description: "I’m not going to be a Gabby Giffords." twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbeae7daa162ea27b/69892d1bab6d771fd36b2535/ralph-norman-gun-event.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'I’m Not Going to Be a Gabby Giffords.' Rep. Ralph Norman Pulls Gun at Constituent Meeting > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. 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It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. by [Lisa Marie Segarra](https://time.com/author/lisa-marie-segarra/) ## Lisa Marie Segarra Apr 7, 2018 2:51 PM UTC  Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., waits for Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., to conduct his ceremonial swearing in at the Capitol on Monday, June 26, 2017. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., waits for Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., to conduct his ceremonial swearing in at the Capitol on Monday, June 26, 2017. Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call by [Lisa Marie Segarra](https://time.com/author/lisa-marie-segarra/) ## Lisa Marie Segarra Apr 7, 2018 2:51 PM UTC During a “Coffee with Constituents” event Friday, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) pulled out his gun and placed it on the table. Norman kept the loaded .38-caliber handgun out while speaking about gun rights, according to [USA _Today_](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/04/07/congressman-draws-gun-meeting-constituents/495736002/). “I’m not going to be a Gabby Giffords,” Norman said at the event, referencing the former Arizona congresswoman who was shot during an event with constituents in 2011. Norman also said that he would continue bringing his gun to future constituent meetings, telling [_The Post and Courier_](https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/u-s-rep-ralph-norman-pulls-out-loaded-gun-in/article%5Fea97bda0-39d3-11e8-b120-3b253f2be91e.html)_,_ “I’m tired of these liberals jumping on the guns themselves as if they are the cause of the problem. Guns are not the problem.” Gifford’s husband, retired NASA astronaut Mike Kelly spoke out after Norman’s comments saying the South Carolina representative is “no Gabby Giffords.” “Americans are increasingly faced with a stark choice: leaders like Gabby, who work hard together to find solutions to problems, or extremists like the NRA and Congressman Norman, who rely on intimidation tactics and perpetuating fear,” Kelly said, according to USA _Today_. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5231886/rep-ralph-norman-gun/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5231886/rep-ralph-norman-gun/"},"headline":"'I’m Not Going to Be a Gabby Giffords.' Rep. 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